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Fishing Good in Clearwater Through Fronts, Spring on the Way!!

Fishing good in Clearwater now that high winds have subsided and the weather is warming. Cold fronts are a possibility even into early April so you always need to adjust for success finding and catching fish. The water has become extremely clear forcing us to downsize tackle to 20lb and even 15lb leader. Smaller hooks like #1 or #2 can be hidden easier in live baits. On a recent trip, two rods I hadn’t switched over to lighter leaders were not getting bit at all, although we were surrounded by trout in 3 – 4 feet of water. As soon as 20lb leader was tied on, bites started coming. Tides have affected the bite also. Moving tides are a stimulant that get fish excited. If you are in an area with a stagnant tide, consider moving where the tide moves around a point, closer to a pass. Redfish have been eating through all phases of the tides but higher waters allows them to reach mangrove shorelines and oyster bars where they forage on bait. There are hundreds of snook in north Pinellas, staging along the spoil islands and mouths of the creeks, rivers and bays, ready to move to the beach for spawn season. The water temp dipped into the upper 50’s this week, shutting the snook bite down for a while. Longer days with sunshine should get the water warmed quickly, turning the snook on again. Offshore anglers are reporting mackerel and kingfish within 8 – 15 miles out. It shouldn’t be long before they get closer to shore making it easier to be reached by most recreational boaters.

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As usual for this time of year, inshore fishing can be slow at times. High water temps and an over abundance of freshly hatched sardines on the flats in Clearwater FL are often the reason. Lately, I've been netting those smaller baits with an 1/8 inch mesh cast net, then chumming some of the grass … read more...